Grocery Store Trip Lands Dog Owner In Court

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(Memphis) A Mid-South woman landed in the dog house following a trip the grocery store.

She was cited after someone told animal control they were bitten by her dog.

The dog owner claims she's being unfairly punished.

"It was cracked about like that? Right. You think my dog could get through that crack? Look at my dog. Can she get through that crack?" explained dog owner, Edith Livingston, as she shows us her car window.

It's Ginger's second trip to the Superlo in Frayser in the last couple of days.

This time the window was rolled up while the owner of the German shepherd mix views store surveillance video to see what happened outside in the parking, lot while she was inside shopping for Thanksgiving dinner two days ago.

Livingston said, "We're looking at the video now and I'm going to record it on my phone to take to court."

A young woman told Livingston Ginger tried to bite her as she walked by the parked car.

Livingston rolled down the window as far as it would go to show us why she doesn't think that's possible.

She said, "They had to put their hand in here all the way like this trying to get the door open for her to snag her coat right here."

Livingston was cited for not having shot records, having the dog spayed or neutered, and not having the dog licensed in Tennessee even though she lives in Mississippi.

Livingston is in Memphis visiting her son for the holiday, "I feel like she's my protector. She protects me and she protects my car."

Livingston is due in court in December to answer to the three citations.

She plans to see if she can enhance the video from the store surveillance cameras to see if she can prove Ginger was in her space and she was just protecting it.

If not, she may have to pay up to $150 in fines.

There was no citation for the contact the dog may or may not have had with the young woman who claims Ginger bit her, and no mention of the woman's name on the citation.

Biscuit

If the dog bite someone, then why wasn’t it impounded for quarantine That is the law and officer Bryant knows that.. .

If the lady can prove she lives in MS and has the documentation for the dog at home, vac. and tags, then that is all she needs. Again, if she truly lives in MS, then she isn’t required to have him/her spayed/neutered or licensed in TN.

tommy skinner

dog lady of Main

First of all don’t take the dog to the store and lock him in the car while you shop, there way too many things that can happen, you know like over heat.
As for the citations, definitely bring all your paperwork with you to court including proof of address.
The dog should have been quaretined under TN law, but it can be quarentined at a private vet.

JustMe

If they live in Mississippi as mentioned, then they can NOT require her to have the shot records, have the dog spayed or neutered, or require registration in Tennessee. Non residents are specifically EXCLUDED from all three of those regulations according to the ordinances.. Now if she was here for more than 30 days, things get to be a little more difficult.
She should not have had her dog shut up in the car while she went into the store, but I feel that there is much more than is being told here. My guess is that someone tried to break in the vehicle and got bit, but without knowing all of the facts, don’t know for certain.

JustMe

Well, that said, I would recommend that anyone travelling with their pets to always carry the animals shot records with you. You never know when you may need them, and your regular vet may not be able to be contacted.